ot, ry ere Oe been eb we ee ee ee ce eee cer allen te ee a we ee PART VI ° BIOLCGY AND MEDICINE wi RS Is — tine Special aspects of the Commission's program of biology and medicine have been singled out recently for intensive work during the next year: 1. Civil defense planning activities. 2s Research on radioactive waste disposal. 3. Studies to establish permissible levels of exposure. 4, Studies of radiation injury and long-term effects of radiation. Se Training health physicists in radiation protection. Recent developments in each of these fields will be described. Civil Defense Planning The Commission's role. In November the Commission reaffirmed its responsibility for providing civil defense planning agencies and the public with data concerning the effects of atomic weapons. The Division of Biology and Medicine was designated to coordinate the Commission's civil defense activities and serve as liaison with the National Security Re- sources Board (NSRB), the National Security Council, the General Services Administration, and other interested agencies. Steps are being taken to proceed immediately with a positive program in this field, including the preparation of a paper for doctors on the treatment of persons exposed to radiation; the completion of a vaper for the engineering and construction industry, “Atomic Bombs vs. Build- ings"; the preparation of a manual for operating and maintaining monitoring instruments; and the preparation of a paper on decontamination. A statement on “The City of Washington and en Atomic Bomb Attack" was fur- nished the, National Security Resources Board and the National Security Council .2/ Training courses. The AEC initiated plans for two types of civil defense training courses during the quarter. One is to train radiological monitoring instructors, and the other course is to train instructors in the medical aspects of atomic warfare. The groups thus trained in i/this statement was transmitted to the Joint Committee, November 17, 1949. - 39 -